Central, H-J remain confident despite 0-2 start

Published 3:30 pm, Thursday, September 10, 2015

Central's players, including Harold Redo, react as Memorial takes the lead during their match-up Saturday at "The Butch" in Beaumont.
Photo taken Saturday, September 5, 2015
Photo by Kim Brent

Central's players, including Harold Redo, react as Memorial takes the lead during their match-up Saturday at "The Butch" in Beaumont.
Photo taken Saturday, September 5, 2015
Photo by Kim Brent

Photo: Kim Brent

Central, H-J remain confident despite 0-2 start

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Considered among the top football teams in Southeast Texas, Central, Nederland and Hardin-Jefferson entered the season with lofty expectations.

But two weeks into the season, the Jaguars, Bulldogs and Hawks find themselves in a position none of them expected to be in – winless.

The reasons for the Jaguars, Bulldogs and Hawks' slow start to the season differ, but ultimately injuries, turnovers, strength of schedule and inexperience are the most notable explanations as to why they are 0-2.

"Injuries makes it hard to have consistency and develop any cohesiveness," said Jaguars coach Toby Foreman, whose team will return to action at 7 p.m. Saturday when they face Summer Creek at Thomas Center in the Lone Star Classic. "We have had different people playing in different spots every week. We have couple of linemen and several skill position players injured. I only dress 30-something players, so in the end, the numbers do catch up with you."

But self-inflicted wounds have been key to the Jaguars' struggles as well.

"We have had some bright spots on offense, but we just haven't finished the drives off," said Foreman, whose Jaguars have lost to West Brook (27-24) and Memorial (24-7). "We had a drive on Saturday where got down to the four yard line and then we fumbled the ball away. In the other game, we had the ball at the 14 yard line and dropped a pass. We can't have those things happen. We have to make those plays. Last week, if we punch it in right there instead of fumbling the ball, we could have a different ball game."

The Bulldogs, who will play at Clear Lake at 7 p.m. Friday, are coming off losses to Crosby (35-18) and Dayton (55-41).

For the Hawks, they expected to take their share of lumps due to the number of inexperienced players taking the field, but they've also been hampered by a number of turnovers.

"With so many young kids playing in roles they've never played in before, we expected there to be a learning curve," said Hawks coach Jared Sloan, whose team will travel to face Kountze at 7 p.m. Friday. "More than anything we just have to take care of ourselves. It's not too often you can turn the football over and still win. The amount of turnovers we've had so far definitely doesn't help our chances to win on any given Friday."

Failing to do the little things won't help the Hawks' chances either.

"It's important that we take care of the little things," said Sloan, whose Hawks have been defeated by Jasper (35-7) and Kelly Catholic (13-12). "We have to take care of the little things like blocking, tackling and not putting the ball on the ground."

Despite the slow start, both Foreman and Sloan agree their teams haven't lost any confidence.

"There was a drive in there Saturday where it looked like we were starting to feel sorry for ourselves," Foreman said. "I pulled them to the sideline and said 'hey, we don't do that here.' We've been 0-2 before. We've been 1-2 before and the worse we've finished in district was second. We expect to win and we will. We just have to eliminate mistakes."

"I don't think the kids are any less confident than before the season started," Sloan said. "You are never happy to be 0-2 and if you are happy with being 0-2 then you shouldn't be on the field. The kids understand that we are still in a process and that it is important for them to continue to believe in the process and continue to work hard. By no means are our kids giving up."